Image Contrast Flashcards

1
Q

define image contrast

A

the degree of difference between the light and dark areas of a radiograph

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What makes the blacks, whites, and grays on a radiograph?

A

differential absorption

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

subject contrast

A

component of image contrast determined by size, shape, and x-ray attenuating characteristics of the subject

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

define differential absorption

A

the difference between photons absorbed and those that penetrate the body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

different body structures absorb x-ray photons to ____________ extents

A

different

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

bones are denser and ________ more x-ray photons than those filled with air such as lungs

A

absorb

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

attenuation

A

removal of any photons from the primary beam before striking the IR

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

attenuation is the reduction of:

A

the intensity of an x-ray beam

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

causes of attenuation:

A

differential absorption
scatter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

absorption

A

x-ray photons that are attenuated by the body and do not reach the IR

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

transmission

A

x-ray photons that pass through the body and reach the IR

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What terms describe the beam entering the patient?

A

primary
useful
entrance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

primary beam

A

x-ray beam as it is upon exiting collimator and exposing patient

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What terms describe the beam leaving the patient?

A

remnant
exit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

remnant beam

A

x-ray beam that remains after interaction with patient when exiting the patient to the IR

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

the remnant beam is composed of what?

A

transmitted and scattered photons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

radiopaque

A

body structures that absorb x-ray photons

(bones)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

radiolucent

A

less dense body structures that have a lower probability of absorption

(air filled lungs)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

photons absorbed show up as _______ on a radiograph

A

white

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

photons that pass through body and reach IR show up as _______ on a radiograph

A

black

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

technical term for absorption within the patient

A

Photoelectric Effect

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

denser tissue _________ the probability of photons being absorbed

A

increases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

structures filled with air __________ the probability of absorption

A

decreases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

what causes the shades of gray?

A

photons that aren’t completely absorbed or transmitted

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

high contrast:

A

large differences in brightness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

high contrast images have mostly:

A

areas of black and white

only few shades of gray

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

a high contrast image is also referred as:

A

short-gray scale

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

short gray scale contrast

A

mostly black and white, few shades of gray

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

low contrast:

A

small differences in brightness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

low contrast images have mostly:

A

areas of gray

only few areas of black and white

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

a low contrast image is also referred as:

A

long gray-scale

32
Q

long gray scale contrast

A

many shades of gray

very little black and white

33
Q

the total brightness levels that an imaging monitor is capable of displaying is referred to as:

A

bit depth

34
Q

high contrast = ______ gray-scale

A

short

35
Q

low contrast = ______ gray-scale

A

long

36
Q

8 factors that affect image contrast

A

kVp
differential absorption
computer processing and display
filtration
Compton scatter
grids
OID
beam restriction

37
Q

high kVp =

A

low contrast
long gray-scale

38
Q

why does increasing kVp decrease contrast?

A

it creates a more penetrating beam = less differential absorption = longer gray-scale = low contrast image.

39
Q

low kVp =

A

high contrast
short gray-scale

40
Q

Why does decreasing kVp increase contrast?

A

it creates a less penetrating beam, increasing differential absorption, which creates a shorter gray-scale, thus high contrast

41
Q

higher levels of differential absorption =

A

higher levels of contrast

42
Q

Look Up Table (LUT)

A

takes place after the exposure is made and image is processed by imaging system software

43
Q

added filtration will result in:

A

decrease in differential absorption
longer gray-scale thus lower contrast

44
Q

filtration and image contrast has what kind of relationship?

A

indirect

45
Q

higher filtration =

A

harder average beam
lower contrast/long gray-scale

46
Q

lower filtration =

A

softer average beam
higher contrast/short gray-scale

47
Q

Compton scatter

A

x-ray photon that interacts with the body and “scatters” off its original trajectory

48
Q

Compton scatter contributes no useful:

A

information to the image

49
Q

Compton scatter causes a uniform exposure on the IR, causing:

A

a loss of visible image contrast

50
Q

radiographic grid

A

device used to reduce the intensity of scatter radiation in the remnant beam

51
Q

grid clean up

A

ability of a grid to absorb scatter radiation

52
Q

a grid _______________ the scattered photon before it can strike the IR and reduce image contrast

A

catches or attenuates

53
Q

OID and image contrast share a _________ relationship

A

direct

54
Q

increased OID =

A

increase image contrast

55
Q

the most common type of beam restriction is:

A

use of collimation

56
Q

increasing collimation:

A

reduces scatter, leading to a higher image contrast

57
Q

Raw numbers (bar graph) of what is occurring in the body (absorption/transmission) will determine?

A

dose

58
Q

Percentages of what is occurring in the body (absorption/transmission) will determine?

A

contrast

59
Q

effects of kVp on the x-ray beam:

A

increasing kVp creates a more penetrating beam

decreasing kVp creates a more less one

60
Q

effects of kVp on patient dose and on absorption

A

increasing kVp causes a greater dose due to greater % of beam passing through patient, which has a decrease on absorption

vice versa

61
Q

why does increasing kVp increase dose?

A

increasing kVp creates a bigger beam

62
Q

Why does increasing kVp create a bigger beam?

A

more electrons are called over which creates more photons

63
Q

increasing kVp does what to dose and absorption?

A

increases dose, but decreases the percentage of absorption

64
Q

will an increase in kVP cause an increase or decrease to the photoelectric?

A

decrease

65
Q

describe the relationship between filtration and image contrast

A

indirect (greater the filtration the more low photons are removed)

66
Q

a photon that does not strike the IR, what type of photon is this?

A

attenuating photon

67
Q

in the digital age, what is the controlling factor for image contrast?

A

look up table (LUT)

68
Q

a decrease in kVp will cause the average amount of transmission to increase or decrease?

A

decrease

69
Q

why does beam restriction improve image contrast?

A

reduces amount of scatter (less matter = less scatter

70
Q

what are the two different ways an x-ray photon can become attenuated?

A

scatter and absorption

71
Q

what produces subject contrast?

A

differential absorption

72
Q

using one word, describe why increasing OID improves image contrast

A

divergence

73
Q

the total number of grays a system is capable of displaying in a radiograph image is referred to as what?

A

bit depth

74
Q

decreasing kVp will have what effect on differential absorption?

A

increases

75
Q

what is the controlling factor for subject contrast?

A

kVp

76
Q

illustrate how an increase in kVp can cause an increase in dose and a reduction of contrast at the same time:

A

2 kvp lines with one slightly higher and fatter toward when it gets to the bottom

dose is in middle section and contrast is in wider section near bottom